Tomatoes, Weirdos, Moose Festival, Mad Hatter Tea, Field to Fork Dinner, Mini Makers, Food Trucks, and more: New England Fall Events Top Picks for August 24th-30th, 2016

Hello New Englanders!

September is knocking on our door and as autumn-lovers, we say, yes please! It's hard not to wake up feeling refreshed after a good night of sleeping with the windows open--don't you agree?

Blueberries, Raspberries, Tomatoes, and (Early) Apples

If you are a fruit-lover, you'll be happy to read that many places are currently offering PYO raspberries but only a handful still are picking PYO blueberries. We can't get enough and love to freeze bagfuls to tie us over through the New England winter when we just crave a taste of late-summer.

Though many folks are gobbling up the tomato harvest while we are in the peak of it, we admit we're also thrilled to see more New England apple orchards opening up for PYO apple picking with each and every day--hooray!

It's just the beginning of apple season so the early varieties you'll find right now include Ginger Golds, Paula Reds, Jersey Macs, Pristines, and  Zestar. Northern New England farms like Maine's McDougal Orchards are already picking apples while others such as Vermont's Shelburne Orchards start PYO this weekend. 

It's always good practice to check with the farm the day-of to see if they are picking--especially since some orchards will begin selling pre-picked before pick-your-own fully ripens. 

New England Fall Events' Guide to local PYO Apple Orchards makes it easy to find contact info, maps, directions, and farm features for planning a memorable and visit. Here are links to our state apple picking guides: Connecticut, Maine,Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island.

And while we're at it, here are your shortcuts to find interactive farm location maps for Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

The Fall Event Season is Only Just Getting Started!

We can't resist pointing out that the delicious and delightful Red Fire Farm Tomato Festival in Granby, MA is coming up this Saturday too! New England Fall Events stopped by for a visit last year and what a feast for the eyes and taste buds. Read about our visit: "Red Fire Farm Delivers a Colorful and Tasty Festival for All"

As August wraps up, check out several local Balloon Festivals vying for your attention this month. This week it's the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest--a multi-day affair--and the Hot-Air Balloon Festival and Crafts Show in Plainville, CT.

Great news! We recently updated our ever popular Guide to Dog-Friendly Events in New England to reflect 2016 events this fall. If you have a beloved pooch or two that you would love to share the season with, please check out dozens of wonderful, worthwhile dog-friendly events.

Check out our Fall Guide to Moonlight and Sunset Events happening across New England this season.

New England Fall Events' Top Recommendations for August 24th-August 30th, 2016

With the long weekend still a week away, you’ll be happy to know that there still are plenty of fabulous outdoor activities to help you ease out of summer and into our beloved autumn.

From Field to Fork - A Late-Summer Crop Dinner at Verrill Farm
Concord, MA    Click for details.
Wednesday, August 24th, 2016

Sunset River Kayak
Harwich, MA   Click for details
Wednesday, August 24th, 2016
Click for more Moonlight and Sunset Fall Events

Night Hike at Wells Reserve
Wells ME    Click for details

Wednesday, August 24th, 2016
Click for more Moonlight and Sunset Fall Events

Crown of Maine Balloon Fest
Presque Isle, ME    Click for details
Thursday August 25th - Sunday, August 28th, 2016

North Country Moose Festival
Colebrook, NH and Canaan, VT   Click for details
Friday and Saturday, August 26th & 27th, 2016

Hot Air Balloon Festival and Crafts Show
Plainville, CT      Details

Friday through Sunday, August 26th-28th, 2016

Tomato Festival at Red Fire Farm
Granby, MA  Click for details
Saturday, August 27th, 2016
Read about our visit: "Red Fire Farm Delivers a Colorful and Tasty Festival for All"

WeirdoFest
Plainfield, VT    Click for details
Saturday, August 27th, 2016

Mad Hatter's Tea Party
Stockbridge, MA   Click for details
Saturday, August 27th, 2016

Taking the Mystery Out of Mushrooming
Exeter, RI   Click for details
Saturday, August 27th, 2016

Dover Mini Maker Faire
Dover, NH    Click for details
Saturday, August 27th, 2016

Paws for a Cause - FREE
Freeport, ME    Click for details
Saturday, August 27th, 2016
Click for more dog-friendly fall events.

Cape Cod Food Truck Festival
East Falmouth, MA    Click for details
Saturday, August 27th, 2016

Brew at the Zoo
Providence, RI   Click for details.
Saturday, August 27th, 2016

Wells Maine Annual Chili-Fest
Wells, ME   Click for details.
Saturday, August 27th 2016

Starry Night: Planets, Stars and More with Arunah Hill
Windsor, MA     Click for details
Saturday, August 27th, 2016
Click for more Moonlight and Sunset Fall Events

Plymouth Waterfront Festival - FREE
Plymouth, MA   Click for details.
Saturday, August 27th, 2016

Dog Days at the Maple Street Pool
Essex Junction, VT    Click for details
Sunday, August 28th, 2016
Click for more dog-friendly fall events.

Let Freedom Ring Tour at Canterbury Shaker Village
Canterbury NH      Click for details
Sunday, August 28th, 2016

Annual Mozart Festival
Woodstock, VT       Click for details
Sunday, August 28th, 2016

BBQ Pulled Pork Competition at Alyson's Orchard
Walpole, NH    Click for details
Sunday, August 28th, 2016

Remember, always double check with fall event hosts before heading out in case the events are adjusted for weather.

PYO Berries, Campfire Tales, Steampunk Festival, Hot Air Balloons, Oysters and more: New England Fall Events Top Picks for August 17th-23rd, 2016

Happy almost-end-of-summer fellow New Englanders!

It sure doesn't feel like fall yet as the weather has been awfully steamy but as we round into the second half of August, we are jumping out of our seat to get started with our festival-going!

Our Top Picks we recommend for the weekend will be listed at the end of this post. You can count on us to narrow down the most interesting, diverse, and worthwhile events going on every week from now through early November. Remember, our Top Pick are but a small selection from the 1700+ events we have listed this fall across New England--that is a lot of fun to be had in 3 months' time!

End of Summer fun at the Discovery Museums' new Discovery Woods Treehouse!

Discovery Museums of Acton, MA debuted the incredible new Discovery Woods--a fully-accessible nature playscape and treehouse constructed by DIY TV's The Treehouse Guys!
Discovery Woods "serves as a launching point for outdoor activity and woodland exploration. Accessible, elevated trails with interactive sensory and observation stations along the way. A climbing hill, adventure path, family slide, and nest swing support physical activity and risk taking. A rain garden, beaver lodge, birdhouse village and woodland nooks allow for quiet reflection and observation.

Connecting to nature has a positive impact on children's activity level, concentration, physical and mental health, and creativity, and can be foundational to healthy development. In keeping with The Discovery Museums' tradition of providing meaningful, fun learning experiences driven by kids' natural curiosity, Discovery Woods will open minds and bring families together in the joy of outdoor play."
It's no secret that New England Fall Events is a huge fan of Discovery Museums--a local treasure!
Read about our visit to Fairyborough at The Discovery Museums.

Salem Food Tours - A Memorable Culinary Tour Not to Be Missed!
One of our most beloved fall experiences was joining a Salem Food in September. The weather is ideal to head up to scenic Salem, MA so consider booking yourself early to lock up a spot on an incredible Salem Food Tour adventure hosted by Karen Scalia.
We reveled at the opportunity to delve into Salem's vibrant local food scene and check out numerous unique stops along on the tour. We can't recommend this foodie experience highly enough!
Read about our experience on the Salem Food Tour.

New England Berry and Peach Harvest Update

By now, raspberries, and tomatoes are front and center so keep your eyes peeled for local harvest festivals such as White Silo Winery's Blackberry Festival coming up this weekend in CT!

Lots of local farms are offering Pick Your Own blueberries and raspberries right now so stop by MA's Lanni Orchards and Kimball Fruit Farm, CT's Bishop's Orchards, or Maine's Doles Orchard to stock up on fresh picked fruit!
As you may have heard, the wild spring weather devastated the peach trees this year so unfortunately, nearly all New England orchards have suspended PYO peach picking for 2016.

Full Moon this Week--We'll help you find under-the-moonlight and stargazing events!

Whether you call August's full moon the Sturgeon Moon, the Grain Moon, or the Green Corn Moon, you'll love the chance to bask in the moon glow while enjoying one of dozen of full moon events going on this fall. Check out our Fall Guide to Moonlight and Sunset Events across New England.

Here are our recommended activities for August 17th-23rd, 2016

Great Falls Balloon Festival - FREE
Lewiston and Auburn, ME   Click for details
Friday through Sunday, August 19th-20th, 2016

Mahrajan Middle Eastern Festival
Manchester, NH  Click for details
Friday through Sunday, August 19th-21st, 2016

Campfire and Tales with Amoo
Hebron, NH    Click for details
Friday, August 19th, 2016
Click for more Moonlight and Sunset Fall Events

Blackberry Festival at White Silo Winery
Sherman CT     Click for details
Saturday and Sunday, August 20-21st, 2016

Silver Kingdom Renaissance Festival
Charleton, MA    Click for details
Saturday and Sunday, August 20th & 21st, 2016

Gate City Steampunk Festival
Nashua NH    Click for details
Saturday, August 20th, 2016

Lowell Southeast Asian Water Festival
Lowell, MA    Click for details
Saturday, August 20th, 2016

Milford Oyster Festival
Milford, CT      Click for details
Saturday, August 20th, 2016

Power of Play Festival

Boston, MA      Click for details
Saturday, August 20th, 2016

Gate City Brewfest & Wing Competition
Nashua, NH      Click for details
Saturday, August 20th, 2016

Kiddies Carnival - Boston Carnival Village
Boston, MA      Click for details
Sunday, August 21st, 2016

Central VT Chamber Music Festival
Sunday, August 21st, 2016      Click for details
Woodstock, VT

Sunset Kayak & Campfire
Martha's Vineyard, MA      Click for details
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2016
Click for more Moonlight and Sunset Fall Events

Remember, always double check with fall event hosts before heading out in case the events are adjusted for weather.

Here are quick links to the Apple Picking Guides for Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

And while we're at it, here are your shortcuts to the maps for Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

It's good practice to always call ahead before heading out to PYO as some farms will adjust their hours for weather or they close to allow more time for fruit to ripen.

Frozen Tea Party, Tomato, Peach, and Balloon Festivals, Fairyborough, and more! Our Top Events for August 19-25, 2015

Happy almost-end-of-summer fellow New Englanders!

  

Heirloom Tomatoes at Verrill Farm

Don't be sad, we're not kicking summer out the door yet but it's exciting that the signs of fall poking up around us!

There are so many festivals going on over the next few weekends leading up to Labor Day that we couldn't resist highlighting some wonderful, off-beat, under-the-radar activities you'll want to check out.

We have our Top Picks recommended at the end as we will continue to offer every week this fall. These are just a small handful of the 1000+ events going on this fall across New England.

You'll be thrilled to know that New England Fall Events has expanded its writing staff this season to make sure we are reporting to you on as many fall events and festivals as possible!

Fairyborough fun at Discovery Museums

New England Fall Events recently visited the Discovery Museums of Acton, MA to experience their Fairyborough activity first-hand. It was a joyful afternoon spent creating a tiny house of organic materials--leaves, petals, twigs, flowers, and more. Read about our visit to Fairyborough at The Discovery Museums.

We also stuffed our bellies on the incredible Salem Food Tour hosted by Karen Scalia. We reveled at the chance to dig a little deeper into the local food scene and unique stops on the tour. We can't recommend this food adventure enough! Read about our experience on the Salem Food Tour.

New England Berry, Tomato, Peach, and Apple Harvest Update

Peach Harvest at Carlson Orchards

In mid-August, peaches, raspberries, and tomatoes are front and center so keep your eyes peeled for local festivals such as the Peach Festival at NH's Apple Crest Orchards or Blackberry Festival at CT's White Silo Winery. New England Fall Events will be visiting the Tomato Festival this weekend at Red Fire Farm - stay tuned to read about our visit!

It's been exciting to see the early season apple harvest making an appearance at the local farmers' markets.  If Paula Reds, Ginger Golds, and Zestar are calling your name, you'll enjoy the handful of New England farms already offering pick-your-own-apples. Early season apples are usually crispy, a bit tart (yum!), and great for eating fresh.

Read about New England Fall Events' early apple picking experience last year at NH's DeMeritt Hill Farm. 

Early Apple Picking Starts in August

Many farms are still picking blueberries and raspberries have made their PYO debut for the season. Visit MA's Lanni Orchards and Kimball Fruit Farm   CT's Bishop's Orchards, or Maine's Doles Orchard to stock up on your raspberries!

Clarkdale Farms is picking apples and peaches right now as is VT's Champlain Orchards! These are just a handful of the many PYO orchards that are ready to welcome you so check out the New England Fall Events apple picking guides for every state in our region to help you make your plans. You can track farm locations on our interactive state maps too!

Here are quick links to the Apple Picking Guides for Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

And while we're at it, here are your shortcuts to the maps for Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Here are our recommended activities for August 19th-25th, 2015:

Hudson Balloon Fest 2015

Great Falls Balloon Festival - FREE
Lewiston and Auburn, ME   Click for details
Friday through Sunday, August 21st-23rd, 2015

Free Fun Friday! at the Discovery Museums - FREE
Acton, MA  Click for details
Friday, August 21st, 2015

Mahrajan Middle Eastern Festival
Manchester, NH  Click for details
Friday through Sunday, August 21st-23rd, 2015

Star Party at the Northern Skies Observatory
Peacham, VT  Click for details
Friday, August 21st, 2015

Mushroom Foraging in Mystic, CT

Dog Days at LL Bean Discovery Park - FREE
Freeport, ME  Click for details
Saturday, August 22nd, 2015

Tomato Festival at Red Fire Farm
Granby, MA  Click for details
Saturday, August 22nd, 2015

Taking the Mystery Out of Mushrooming
Smithfield, RI   Click for details
Saturday, August 22nd, 2015

Blackberry Festival at White Silo Winery - FREE
Sherman CT  Click for details
Saturday and Sunday, August 22nd & 23rd, 2015

PYO Raspberries across New England

Peach Festival at Applecrest Farm Orchards - FREE
Hampton Falls, NH  Click for details
Sunday, August 23rd 2015

Frozen Tea Party at the Ice Loft
Boston, MA Click for details
Sunday, August 23rd 2015

Kiddies Carnival - Boston Carnival Village
Boston, MA   Click for details
Sunday, August 23rd, 2015

BBQ Pulled Pork Competition at Alyson's Orchard
Walpole, NH    Click for details
Sunday, August 23rd 2015

Remember, always call ahead before heading out to PYO as some farms will adjust their hours for weather or they close to allow more time for fruit to ripen.